Assessing Writing Ningtyas Orilina A, M.Pd

1. Definition Olshtain in Celce-Murcia(2001:207) defines writing as an act of communication which takes place between the writer and the reader via the text in an interactive process. Byrne (1997: 1) defines that writing is producing a sequence of sentences arranged in a particular order and linked together in certain ways. A sequence of sentences whether it is short or long after being put in order and linked together, they will form a coherent whole. This coherent whole is called a text. A text may consist of one paragraph or more.

Continue... Manchón (2009: 7) defines that writing is the process of converting ideas into written language. This means that when you first write something down, you have already thinking about what you are going to say and how you are going to say it in the written form. Hamp and Lyons in O’Malley and Pierce (1996: 136) define that writing is a personal act in which writers take ideas or prompts and transform them into “self-initiated topics.

2. Construct Writing is producing a sequence of sentences arranged in a particular order and linked together in certain ways to convert idea into “self-initiated topics” to communicate with the reader via text.

3. Aspects

Olshtain in Celce-Murcia (2001:207 Byrne (1997: 1) Manchón (2009: 7) Hamp and Lyons in O’Malley and Pierce (1996: 136) Brown (2004: 221) Indicators an act of communication   Provide supporting details of informations producing a sequence of sentences arranged in a particular order and linked together in certain ways Convey links and connections between events, and communicate such relations as main idea, supporting idea, new information, given information, generalization and exemplification. Use appropriate words and phrases to express the idea the process of converting ideas into written language. a personal act in which writers take ideas or prompts and transform them into “self-initiated topics Express the main idea of the text Use the rhetorical forms and conventions of written discourse. use of appropriate cohesive devices to create a well-organized text Produce an acceptable core of words and use appropriate word order patterns. Use certain language system (grammar) to make well-formed sentences

4. Indicators Express the main idea of the text Provide supporting details of informations Use appropriate words and phrases to express the idea Use certain language system (grammar) to make well-formed sentences Make use of appropriate cohesive devices to create a well-organized text Use appropriate mechanics to accomplish the purpose of the speech

5. Test Instrument Write a 250-words descriptive text in 60 minutes consisting of an identification and description about your favorite actor/actress. Your text will be assessed based on certain criteria: organization, content, grammar, vocabulary, and mechanic.

6. Scoring rubrics No Aspect Score Description 1 Organization 5 No apparent organization of the content 10 Very little organization of content. Underlying structure not sufficiently apparent 15 Some organizational skills in evidence, but not adequately controlled 20 Overall shape and internal pattern clear. Organizational skills adequately controlled.

No Aspect Score Description 2 Content 5 Bear almost no relation to the task 10 Limited relevance to the task 15 Mostly answer the task 20 Relevant and adequate answer to the task

No Aspect Score Description 3 Grammar 5 Almost all gramatical patterns inaccurate 10 Frequent grammatical inaccurate 15 Some grammatical inaccurate 20 Almost no grammatical inaccurate

No Aspect Score Description 4 Vocabulary   5 Vocabulary inadequate even for the most basic part of intended communication 10 Frequent inadequacies in vocabulary for the task. Perhaps frequent lexical inappropriacies and/or repetition. 15 Some inadequacies in vocabulary for the task. Perhaps some lexical inappropriacies and/or circumlocution. 20 Almost no inadequacies in vocabulary for the task. Only rare lexical inappropriacies and/or circumlocution.

No Aspect Score Description 5 Mechanics Ignorance of conventions of punctuation. Almost all spelling inaccurate. 10 Low standard of accuracy in punctuation and spelling. 15 Some inaccuracy in punctuation and spelling. 20 Almost no inaccuracy in punctuation.